Technology, Global Competition
Dog Rural Ireland's Postal Service

LISACUL, Ireland -- In a world of lightning-fast money transfers and instant communications, Mary Lafferty does her banking by bike.

Once a week, the red-haired retiree climbs aboard her battered bicycle with a plastic bag strung around the seat for the ride to her local post office. Inside the building, which doubles as a tiny shop, Ms. Lafferty...